Template for and method of installing a plurality of foundation elements in an underwater ground formation

Abstract

A template for use in installing a plurality of foundation elements, in particular anchor piles, relative to one another in an underwater ground formation, comprises at least a guide for guiding a foundation element in a guiding direction during driving the foundation element into a seabed, and a frame including a holding member for holding the guide in transverse direction of the guiding direction. The template further comprises a levelling mechanism for levelling the frame with respect to a seabed when it is placed thereon. The guide is freely displaceable with respect to the holding member in the guiding direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A template for use in installing a plurality of foundation elements relative to one another in an underwater ground formation, comprising:
 at least a guide configured to guide a foundation element in a guiding direction during driving the foundation element into a seabed; 
 a frame including a holding member configured to hold said guide in a transverse direction of the guiding direction, wherein the guide is freely displaceable with respect to the holding member such that the guide is movable in the guiding direction by a force of the frame upon levelling the frame; 
 a levelling mechanism configured to level the frame with respect to the seabed when the frame is placed thereon; and 
 wherein the template is free from power tools to move the holding member with respect to the guide. 
 
     
     
       2. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide is provided with a suspended element, and wherein the guide and the holding member are configured such that upon lifting the frame the holding member displaces upwardly with respect to the guide until the holding member contacts the suspended element of the guide so as to lift the guide. 
     
     
       3. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a sleeve configured to surround a foundation element of the plurality of foundation elements during driving. 
     
     
       4. The template according to  claim 2 , wherein the suspended element comprises an arresting ring and the holding member has a cylindrical upper end surrounding the guide, wherein the arresting ring has a larger diameter than the cylindrical upper end of the holding member. 
     
     
       5. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a sound insulating sleeve. 
     
     
       6. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the levelling mechanism comprises at least an inflatable bag mounted at a bottom portion of the frame. 
     
     
       7. The template according to  claim 6 , wherein the inflatable bag is provided with an outer shield for protecting the inflatable bag. 
     
     
       8. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the template comprises a locking device configured to lock the guide with respect to the holding member. 
     
     
       9. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the holding member comprises two aligned rings located at a distance from each other, which rings surround the guide. 
     
     
       10. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the template comprises three or four holding members including corresponding guides at equi-angular positions around a central axis of the frame. 
     
     
       11. The template according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises at least two first rings at angular distance around a central axis of the frame and a rotation device configured to rotate a second ring between angular positions of the first rings such that a temporary holding member configured to hold a sleeve-shaped guide is formed at each of said respective angular positions. 
     
     
       12. A method of installing a plurality of foundation elements relative to one another in an underwater ground formation with a template including at least a guide configured to guide a foundation element in a guiding direction during driving the foundation element into a seabed, and a frame including a holding member configured to hold said guide in transverse direction of the guiding direction, the method comprising:
 placing the frame including the guide on a seabed; and 
 levelling the frame, wherein levelling further comprises allowing free automatic vertical adjustment between the guide and the holding member with the guide in direct contact with the seabed, without using power tool to move the holding member with respect to the guide. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , and further comprising, after installing the foundation elements, lifting the template including the guide over ends of the installed foundation elements extending above the underwater ground formation; and
 moving the template including the guide to another site for installing a plurality of foundation elements. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the guide further comprises a suspended element, the method further comprising, upon moving the template, displacing the holding member upwardly with respect to the guide until the holding member contacts the suspended element of the guide so as to lift the guide. 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein levelling further comprises positioning the guides vertically without losing contact with a seabed. 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein levelling moves the frame with respect to the seabed to a position in which the holding member holds the guide in a vertical position. 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein allowing free adjustment between the guide and the holding member moves the guide to a desired vertical position during the levelling. 
     
     
       18. A template for use in installing a plurality of foundation elements relative to one another in an underwater ground formation, comprising:
 at least a guide configured to guide a foundation element in a guiding direction during driving the foundation element into a seabed; 
 a frame including a holding member configured to hold said guide in a transverse direction of the guiding direction; and 
 a levelling mechanism configured to level the frame with respect to the seabed when the frame is placed thereon, the guide configured to be freely displaceable with respect to the holding member in the guiding direction and automatically positioned vertically in direct contact with the seabed when the frame contacts the seabed; and 
 wherein the template is free from power tools suitable to move the holding member with respect to the guide.